The Duchess Park Condors got a close-up view of the junior boys volleyball provincial champions.
In a quarterfinal playoff match at provincials, held in Abbotsford on the weekend, the Condors ran into the Fraser Heights Firehawks and lost in straight sets. Later, the Firehawks defeated the Langley Christian Lightning for B.C. gold.
In the 20-team tournament, Duchess Park finished tied for fifth.
"I'm very happy with that," said Condors coach Glenn Wong. "We were aiming for top eight and we did it. Fifth is well in it."
In that quarterfinal clash with Surrey-based Fraser Heights, the Condors fell 25-13, 25-14.
"It would have been nice to take a set off them, but what we wish as coaches doesn't necessarily come true," Wong said with a grin. "All their kids played club volleyball, and only two of my guys do. That's a huge difference. There's nothing you can do about it. It's basically, 'Here we go.' I knew that we would be in tough."
